Miner s breastplate



W. H. DAVIS.

MINERS BREASTPLATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2!. 1920.

1,383,909. July 5, 1921 5 ii in i 211/ i jmnnfo't W.H.Ddu\s.

Roz no [1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIE H. DAVIS, OF ACCOVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA.

MINERS BREASTPLATE.

Application filed May 21,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIE H. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Accoville, in the county of Logan and State of West Virinia, have invented certain new and useful Iinprovements in MinersBreastplates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in drilling apparatus of themining type and has for its object to provide an improved breast platefor miners use by which the necessary pressure may be exerted upon thedrill bit to expedite drilling of rock or other material.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a breast latewherein the drill sup orting element is afforded a wide range ofmovement with relation to the breast plate due to the utilization of animproved type of universal joint whereby convenience and comfort areafforded the miner in drilling in locations which are difiicult ofaccess.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described andthen specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawingsillustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the improved breast plate, and

Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal sectional view therethrou h.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference numeralsdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral5 indicates the breast plate which consists of the slightly curvedmedial portion and the turned ends 6 the shape of the entire plate beingsuch as to conform to the eneral shape of the breast of the miner. Theplate is provided with longitudinal reinforcing ribs 7 extending from apoint adjacent the center to the ends thereof which are designed toincrease the strength and rigidity of the plate without undulyincreasing the weight thereof.

A socket designated generally by the numeral 8 is located centrally ofthe convex face of the plate 5 between the terminals of the ribs 7 andconsists of base and cap plates 9 and 10, respectively, which arer1gidly Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 5, 1921.

1920. Serial No. 383,197.

and detachably connected with the breast plate by bolts or equivalentfastening devices 11.

The base plate 9 is provided with a central transverse aperture 12 whichis tapered and decreases in diameter toward the breast plate 5.

The portion of the cap plate contiguous to the aperture in the baseplate is bulged outwardly and apertured providing a substantiallysemi-spherical cup 13. V

The drill supporting element 14 is provlded at one terminal withadequate means to support the drill in connection with which the breastplate is to be used, according to the type of drill in use. In thepresent embodiment of the invention the drill support isullustrated asbeing provided terminally with a socket although this feature of theinvention is capable of such modification as will adapt the device foruse in connection with various types of drills.

The opposite terminal of the drill support is provided with asubstantially spherical head 15 which is partially accommodated withinthe aperture 12 of the base plate and in the cupped portion 13 of thecap plate, being afforded relatively wide range of movement withrelation to the breast plate and having its end thrust limited in onedirection by the walls of the aperture in the base plate and in theother direction by the walls of the cupped portion of the cap plate. Thebase plate 9 is arranged to receive the end thrust of the drill support14 and thus reinforces the breast plate at the point of stress.

The principal advantage in the use of the improved breast plate residesin the comfort afforded the miner in drilling operations due to thepossibility of utilization of the chest in exerting the proper pressureupon the drill bit. Furthermore. due to the utilization of the universaljoint connecting the drill supporting element with the breastplate, thelatter is afforded a wide range of movement with relation to the drillbit permitting drilling operations to be carried on in such locations asare otherwise diflicult of access. For instance, when the miner iscompelled to drill when in a stooping osition and the chest isconsequently inc ined forwardly, the breast plate may be adjusted so asto lie flat against the chest and the drill bit is moved angular-1yrelative to the breast plate until it is in a horizontal position.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a breast plate, a tool supporting element, and meansconnecting the breast plate with the supporting element and permittinguniversal movement of the latter whereby the tool supportingelement andtool mounted therein may be moved to various angular positions while thebreast plate is maintained flat against the chest,

2. In combination, a breast plate having turned ends to partiallyembrace the chest a tool supporting element, and means detachably'connecting the breast plate with the supporting element and permittinguniversal movement of the latter whereby the tool supporting element andtool mounted therein may be moved to various angular positions while thebreast plate is maintained flat against the chest.

8. In combination, a breast plate, a base plate secured thereto having atapered aperture, a cap plate secured to the base plate having theportion adjacent the aperture in the base plate cupped, a toolsupporting element, and a head at the extremity of the tool supportingelement partially received within the aperture of the base plate andwithin the cupped portion of the cap plate, said base plate constitutinga reinforcement for the breast plate and arranged to receive the thrustof the supporting element.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

WILLIE H. DAVIS.

